Josephine County, OR Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash Laws (2026)

Section 12.05.120(A) of the Josephine County parks ordinance makes it unlawful in any county park 'to allow an animal to run unrestrained or on a leash that is more than six feet long.' The same section separately bars leaving a dog unattended or uncontrolled even in a designated off-leash dog park, tethering animals to trees or structures, and allowing an animal to threaten, molest, or attack any person. Park violations are enforced by employees the Parks Director designates as Enforcement Officers under ORS 153.005 to 153.145 (§ 12.05.180), are punishable by state-set unclassified-violation fines, and a corporation's fine is doubled.

Outside park boundaries, the county's animal control chapter reaches at-large dogs through impoundment rather than a leash mandate: § 6.05.230(A) directs Animal Control to impound dogs considered traffic hazards or found on public property, in addition to unlicensed adult dogs. For kennel, fancier, or rescue permit holders specifically, § 6.05.050 treats a dog that 'runs at large (out of control of its owner)' as an unlicensed dog, subjecting it to the same fines and licensing requirements, and can disqualify the permit from renewal or trigger revocation. Impounded dogs are held for the period ORS Chapter 609 requires before Animal Control may release or dispose of them (§ 6.05.230(B)).